Home » Health Remedies » Ocular disorders»Anterior segment eye disorders

Health Remedies - Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. Cataract decreases the amount of light that is focused on the retina, resulting in an overall blurriness of images. Cataract can develop in one or both eyes, and it may or may not affect the entire lens. For most people, cataracts are the natural result of aging. Some children are born with cataracts or develop it during childhood. These cataracts may not affect vision. Family history can be a genetic predisposition. Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later. It is likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, like diabetes. Certain medications like steroids and cigarette smoking also cause cataracts. Excessive long-term exposure to sunlight and exposure to heavy doses of radiation, as in cancer therapy can also result in a cataract.

Useful herbs

Achlys triphylla	In the treatment of tuberculosis (leaves); to treat cataracts (dry shredded roots)
Achyranthes aspera	Asthma and snakebite (root powder); toothache (root); rashes. boils and dropsy (plant); renal dropsy (plant decoction); as an emmenagogue; in hemorrhoids; atrophy; blindness (veterinary); insect bites; cachexia; cataracts; cholera; circumcision; antispasmodic; astringent; odontalgic. The flower-tops are stated to be employed for the treatemtnt of rabies. It is also used in veterinary medicine to expel placenta.
Allium cepa	In abscesses, albuminuria, arteriosclerosis, as an emmenagogue, vermifuge, apertif, in cancer and tumors, cataracts, catarrh, common cold, bronchitis, jaundice, hydrophobia, diphtheria, dropsy, dysentery, ear maladies, edema, fever, influenza, hepatosis.
Capparis spinosa	Spleen, kidney and liver maladies (root); gastrointestinal infections, diarrhoea, gout, rheumatism, skin conditions, capillary weakness and easy bruising; coughs, and externally to treat eye infections and in preventing the formation of cataracts (unopened flower buds); to treat vaginal thrush (plant decoction).
Celosia argentea	In blood diseases, mouth sores, diarrhea, cataracts and hypertension (seed); on scorpion sting (leaf paste); in blood- dysentery, spitting of blood, menorrhagia and as a parasiticide in trichomonas infection (flowers); in bloody stool, haemorrhoid bleeding, uterine bleeding, leucorrhoea (flower & seed)
Chelidonium majus	In diseases of the internal, digestive organs, periodontal disease and for warts; in ancient times, it was used for eye cataracts. To treat warts (latex); in the treatment of bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, jaundice, gallstones and gallbladder pains (plant)
Digitaria sanguinalis	In the treatment of gonorrhoea, for cataracts and debility (plant)
Emilia sonchifolia	Problems with the bowel, to treat infantile tympanites, to relieve cuts and wounds, breast abcesses (plant); to relieve sore ears, headache, night blindness and eye inflammations (leaf); to treat diarrhoea, cataracts and redness of the eyes (root).
Ligustrum lucidum	For rheumatism (berries); for promoting perspiration (decoction of bark and leaf); nonlymphatic leukaemia, stimulate the immune system, reduce inflammation, may have beneficial effects on the liver, menopausal problems (especially premature menopause), blurred vision, cataracts, tinnitus, rheumatic pains, palpitations, backache and insomnia (fruit)
Nepenthes khasiana	For urinary troubles when administered orally and for redness and itching of the eye, cataract and night blindness if used as eye drops and for treating stomach troubles, diabetes and cholera patients.
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis	As an antiinflammatory and reducing fever, for treating intestinal worms, venereal diseases, erysipelas, dropsy, asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism and stomach ailments (indigestion, acid reflux, ulcers, constipation, dyspepsia, slow digestion) (plant); for cataract and open sores (plant juice); for colds and cough, in cardiac troubles and are also rubbed on sprains and bruises or used as cataplasm for boils (leaves); applied topically to treat dysentery (Paste of stem and root bark)
Terminalia bellerica	In dropsy, piles and diarrhea; in cases of myopia, corneal opacity, pterigium, immature cataract, chronic and acute infective conditions; as a tonic to brain and stomach.